Chronology

8:00 p.m.
President Richard Nixon announces to the
nation that an "incursion" into Cambodia has been launched by the United
States combat forces.

Friday, May 1, 1970

Noon
As a symbolic protest to President Nixon's decision to send troops into
Cambodia a group of about five-hundred students watch as a graduate student
at Kent State buries a copy of the United States Constitution.

3:00 p.m.
Black United Students hold a rally attended by approximately four hundred
persons and discuss issues of the Black community and incidents at Ohio
State University. Kent State University President Robert White decides
the situation at Kent is calm and leaves on a planned trip to Iowa.

11:00 p.m.
On one of the first warm nights of spring, several people gather in the
streets in the Kent bar area and close the street to traffic. Most of
the students present remain in the bars, many watching the NBA Basketball
playoffs. Many among the crowd are not Kent State students. A local motorcycle
gang performs tricks on their bikes and ignites a bonfire. Some of those
assembled begin to trash stores and deface property. There is no effort
by the Kent Police Department to break up the crowd.

Saturday, May 2, 1970

12:30 a.m.
The crowd becomes more boisterous. After being informed of the events,
Kent Mayor Leroy Satrom declares a "state of emergency," orders the bars
closed, and directs the police to clear the area. This action angers individuals
present in the bars, many of whom are unaware of the action taking place
outside, and results in a dramatic increase in the number of people in
the area and a heightening of their mood of hostility.

12:47 a.m.
Believing that radicals and the SDS had initiated the disturbance, Mayor
Satrom calls Governor James A. Rhodes and informs his Administrative Assistant
of the situation. In response, the Ohio National Guard directs an officer
to study the situation at Kent.

1:00 a.m.
After emptying the bars, the Kent Municipal Police attempt to drive the
group away from the downtown area and toward the campus of Kent State
University. The Kent State University Campus Police offer little assistance
in this effort. The crowd finally breaks up after a freak incident involving
an individual hanging from a traffic light. Damage estimates are initially
set at $50,000, a figure which is later reduced to $15,000. Fifteen persons,
all from Ohio, are arrested.

The President's Commission on Campus Unrest offered the following
summary of the events and feelings present among those involved: "The
pattern established on Friday night was to recur throughout the weekend:
There were disorderly incidents; authorities could not or did not respond
in time to apprehend those responsible or to stop the incidents in their
early stages; the disorder grew; the police action, when it came, involved
bystanders as well as participants; and, finally, the students drew together
in the conviction that they were being arbitrarily harassed."(1)

10:00 a.m.
Mayor Satrom is informed by Police Chief Ed Thompson that his intelligence
officers have noticed new faces in Kent, and have reports of an impending
arrival of carloads of SDS students. There are threats to merchants that
damage will be done to their businesses if anti-war messages are not put
in their windows. Rumors abound. The police guard the water supply of
the city, after learning of a report that it would be spiked with LSD.
Mayor Satrom establishes a city curfew of 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and a
conflicting 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew for the campus. This decision
results in much misunderstanding in the days to follow.

5:00 p.m.
After assessing the situation, Mayor Satrom calls in the National Guard.
The Kent State University officials are unaware of this decision.

7:30 p.m.
Approximately six hundred people, including individuals who are not students,
gather on the Commons at Kent State University and attempt to burn the
ROTC building. There are numerous futile attempts and many of those gathered
leave the area.

8:45 p.m.
The ROTC building is ablaze. (Identity of who actually set the ROTC building
on fire is still an unresolved issue ten years after the incident.)

9:00 p.m.
The Kent Municipal Fire Department arrives to fight the fire, but is forced
to abandon its efforts as the crowd slashes hoses and stones the firemen.
The Kent State Campus Police do not offer protection for the firemen or
attempt to disperse the crowd.

10:00 p.m.
The Ohio National Guard arrives in Kent and blocks the crowds path into the
city. Presence of the Guard surprises University officials and students. The
Guard maintain control of the situation, which is characterized by rock-throwing
and at least one bayoneting.

11:45 p.m.
General Canterbury of the National Guard reports the campus is quiet.
The President's Commission on Campus Unrest offered the following
description of the events and the mood on campus: "As the ROTC building
burned, the pattern of the previous night was repeated-authorities arrived
at the scene of an incident too late to apprehend the participants, then
swept up the bystanders and the participants together in their response.
Students who had nothing to do with burning the building-who were not
even in the area at the time of the fire-resented being gassed and ordered
about by armed men. Many students returning to campus on Sunday after
a weekend at home were first surprised at the Guard's presence, then irritated
when its orders interfered with their activities. Student resentment of
the Guard continued to grow during the next two days." (2)

Sunday, May 3, 1970

10:00 a.m.
Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes, involved in a Republican primary battle
for the party's U.S. senatorial nomination, arrives in Kent and announces
at a news conference, "We're going to use every weapon possible to
eradicate the problem." Rhodes blames the incidents on outside agitators,
and describes such individuals as "the worst type of people we harbor
in America." Some leaders interpret the governor's statement to mean "martial
law" was declared, but actually no decree had been issued.

Afternoon
After Rhodes' news conference, university officials confer with guard
officials and incorrectly conclude that Rhodes' statement forbade any
rallies or gatherings. Twelve thousand leaflets are prepared announcing
this information, but because of poor methods of distribution, most Kent
State students do not receive the leaflet until after the shooting incident
on Monday.

8:00 p.m.
A crowd begins to gather on the Commons. As the group grows, Guard officials
announce the immediate enforcement of a new curfew. The Guard begins attempts
to disperse the crowd. Many students who are unaware of the new curfew
become involved as the Guard sweeps through campus.

8:45 p.m.
Officials determine the campus curfew will go into effect. The crowd is
dispersed from the Commons area with tear gas.

9:00 p.m.
Students attempt to demonstrate that the curfew is unnecessary by peacefully
marching toward the town but are met by the Guard at the gate to the university,
which is also the entrance to the town. The students stage a sit-in at
the gate and request that Mayor Satrom and President White speak with
them about the Guard's presence on campus.

11:00 p.m.
After being informed earlier that President White and Mayor Satrom would speak
to them, the crowd is told that the officials will not appear. The Guard announce
that the curfew will go into effect immediately. Helicopters and teargas are
used and some students are bayoneted as the Guard successfully breaks up the
crowd.

Midnight
The campus is quiet. Fifty-one are arrested for participating in the disturbances.
In its description of the activities of May 3, the President's Commission
wrote: "Despite the day's promising start, the situation at Kent State
had appreciably worsened by Sunday night. Students were resentful of the
Guard as a result of what they considered to be broken promises at Prentice
Gate. The university was anxious to restore normal conditions, and law
enforcement officers and guardsmen seemed to be growing more impatient
with student curses, stones, and refusals to obey." (3)

Monday, May 4, 1970

10:00 a.m.
At a meeting attended by local and state officials, some of those present
incorrectly assume Governor Rhodes had declared martial law to be in effect,
and thus argue that a rally scheduled for noon is illegal. While there
is disagreement on this interpretation, the decision is made after the
meeting that the rally should not be allowed.

11:00 a.m.
A group of approximately two hundred students gather on the university
Commons area. Because of the central location and the approaching noon
hour, many of those present are on their way to class or preparing to
eat lunch. A sizeable number of students gather to watch the Guard, while
others gather near the campus victory bell to protest the Guard's presence
on the Kent State campus.

11:45 a.m.
As the class break occurs at Kent State, many more students pour on to
the Commons. General Canterbury of the National Guard notices the increasing
number of students and assumes that all are gathering to participate in
the scheduled rally. He orders the group to disperse immediately. The
message is communicated via a mechanical speaker, and is not heard by
many members of the crowd. Those who do hear the message express anger.
Prior to this announcement, there has been no violence. Rocks and obscenities
are now directed at the Guard.

11:55 a.m.
Some students begin to ring the victory bell. Most of those present are
standing on the edge of the Commons watching the Guard and the two hundred
students near the victory bell. General Canterbury orders the ninety-six
Guardsmen to disperse the crowd. The Guardsmen are equipped with loaded
M-1 rifles and ample tear gas supplies.

Noon
Tear gas canisters are exploded among the students, but wind conditions limit
their effectiveness. The Guard continues its march across the Commons area.
As the crowd of students scatter up Blanket Hill, many shout obscenities and
hurl objects at the Guard.

12:10 p.m.
The Guard clears the Commons area and the students are forced into several
groups. Canterbury directs some of the Guardsmen up Blanket Hill and on to
a practice football field where they are met by a chain-link fence. For approximately
ten minutes the Guard stays in this position, apparently confused as to their
next move. During this time tear gas canisters are thrown back and forth from
the Guard's position to a small group of students located in the Prentice
Hall parking lot. The majority of students are located in front of Taylor
Hall to the Guard's left.

12:20 p.m.
Realizing there is confusion among the Guard located on the practice football
field, Major Jones walks to the practice football field through the crowd
of students near Taylor Hall who are observing the Guard. At this time
several members of the Guard kneel and aim their weapons at the approximately
fifteen students in the Prentice Hall parking lot. One Guardsman fires
his weapon in the air. The Guard incorrectly assumes their tear gas supply
to be relinquished.

12:25 p.m.
Canterbury concludes that the crowd has been dispersed and orders the
Guard to march back to the Commons area. Most of the students believe
the "action" to be over and begin walking away from the area. Some continue
to shout obscenities and throw rocks at the Guard. As the Guard reaches
the crest of Blanket Hill near the Pagoda of Taylor Hall, twenty-eight
Guardsmen suddenly turn around 180 degrees, walk back a few steps, and
fire their weapons into the group located in the parking lot. Sixty-one
shots are fired in thirteen seconds. Four students are killed and nine
others injured. Various professors are successful in preventing further
bloodshed.

Afternoon
Portage County Prosecutor Ronald Kane orders the school closed.